Options side by side
| Option | Good for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher filter | Chlorine taste, small volumes | Slow, frequent cartridge changes |
| Fridge filter | Convenience at the door | Limited capacity and stages |
| Under-sink alkaline RO | Drinking and cooking water, lower dissolved solids | Needs cabinet space and a drain |
| Whole-home filter | Chlorine taste and smell at every tap | Does not lower dissolved solids |
What Florida City's report tells us
The 2025 report describes groundwater from the Biscayne Aquifer, disinfected by chlorination, with chlorine averaging 1.43 ppm. It also shows tap copper at a 90th percentile of 1.1 ppm against a 1.3 action level, with 2 sampled homes above it, and the city posts a copper notice on its Water & Sewer page. If lead or copper in home plumbing concerns you, choose a model whose NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 listing names that reduction, and consider a lab test.
Sodium is listed at 24 ppm and nitrate at 1.2 ppm, both well within standards, which is useful context if you are comparing your tap with bottled water labels.
Our usual recommendation
For households drinking several glasses a day, cooking with tap water, or buying bottled water, an under-sink alkaline RO is usually the practical choice. If the chlorine smell in showers also bothers you, add a whole-home system later. If you only want better-tasting water occasionally, a certified pitcher may be all you need, and Jorge will tell you so.
Another option is a countertop or faucet-mount filter, which suits renters and small kitchens. As with every option, check its certification for the claims you care about and keep up with replacement cartridges.
For homes on a well
Private wells outside city limits need a full well treatment plan before any drinking-water system, because iron, sulfur and hardness can overwhelm small filters. Bacteria and nitrate testing through a certified lab comes first.
Bottled water vs. a home system
Many households buy cases of bottled water out of habit. Count how many you buy in a month and compare with the filter schedule of an RO system. Our bottled water vs. RO calculator helps you do the comparison yourself.
How to choose
- Decide what you want to change: taste, dissolved solids, a specific contaminant, or convenience.
- Check the certification listing for that exact claim.
- Compare upkeep: cartridges, membranes and their intervals.
- Test your tap first.
Call, text or WhatsApp Jorge at (305) 793-5974.
https://www.floridacityfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/348/2025-Florida-City-CCR-FINAL
https://www.floridacityfl.gov/183/Water-Sewer
https://www.floridacityfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/246/Florida-City-Copper-Notification-PDF
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist